VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A Maltese-flagged container ship has been involved in a missile attack on port infrastructure in the Black Sea, sustaining minor damage.

A spokesperson for the Maltese Ministry of Transport said the vessel was slightly damaged by shrapnel after the port area was targeted. The ship remains seaworthy, but one seafarer was injured in the incident.

The spokesperson emphasized that the attack was aimed at port infrastructure and not the ship itself, adding that details of the incident remain limited at this time. This incident follows another attack earlier this week in the same region, which involved a Greek-owned, Kazakhstan-operated oil tanker registered in Malta.

In that case, the vessel was struck by a drone near Anapa, in the Russian region of Krasnodar.

Malta’s Ministry of Transport condemned the attacks on commercial shipping, warning that they pose “a serious threat to the safety of civilian seafarers, international navigation , and the free flow of legitimate global trade.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

AMSTERDAM (NETHERLANDS) (ITALPRESS) – Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to the national team. The 49-year-old former Dutch striker will be part of Ronald Koeman’s coaching staff starting February 1, joining his other two assistants, Erwin Koeman and Wim Jonk. Former assistant coach from 2014 to 2016 and then at the 2021 European Championships, the Dutch football legend has won 70 caps and scored 35 goals for the national team as a player.

“It’s a great honor for me to return to represent the Netherlands in this role, with this staff, and with this talented team. It’s a huge honor and a wonderful challenge for me, and the fact that the World Cup will be in June makes it all the more special. Thanks to my experience in various roles, including assistant, I know this position is perfect for me. I can’t wait to make my contribution and contribute to a successful tournament for the Netherlands.”

“Ruud has shown that, with his style and vision of football, he can truly add value to our staff,” said coach Koeman. “He understands the rules of top-level football and brings valuable tournament experience, both as a player and as a coach. Furthermore, with his personality and approach, he integrates well with both the rest of the staff and the players.”

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Migrant families in Malta are maintaining their heritage languages at home, but English dominates daily life while Maltese remains marginal, a new study shows.

The research, Speaking Home, Speaking Host by the Malta Review of Educational Research surveyed 32 migrant parents with children in state schools. Families came from countries including Ukraine, China, Albania and Latvia, with most having arrived recently. English was found to be the main language for schoolwork, media use and writing, while heritage languages were mostly used during mealtimes and parent–child interactions. Maltese was the least used language across nearly all home activities.

Although 75% of parents said children need to understand the local language to feel a sense of belonging, only 34% believed Maltese should be the primary language. English was prioritised by 63%, while nearly half expressed neutral views on Maltese acquisition. Parents placed strong value on heritage languages, citing emotional expression, mental health and cultural identity. Many supported after-school classes and maintaining close family ties to reinforce language skills. The study warns that limited exposure to Maltese outside school may hinder integration. The authors call for more accessible Maltese-language media and structured opportunities for migrant children to engage with native speakers.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – A defeat which increases the discontent and makes everything more difficult for a coach, like Alvaro Arbeloa, who is taking charge of a first team for the first time, and not a easy first team, but Real Madrid. The former defender, however, knows that, after the elimination in the Copa del Rey against Albacete (Spanish Serie B), he cannot fail in his league debut against Levante. “For us, it’s a crucial match that we’ll approach with great energy, with great desire, we’ll play a great match. From day one, I’ve said that there’s a lot of work to do, and that I’ll give my all to win with this team.” He knows that tomorrow, the Bernabeu will have to be conquered from the very first minutes. “I greatly respect the fans’ opinions and I fully understand that at this moment there is disappointment and disappointment among the Madrid fans, but I am turning to our supporters and asking for their help. In our 123-year history, Real Madrid has won when it has had the support of its fans, and that’s what I ask.”

A former teammate and friend of Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa is careful to choose his words and defends his predecessor. “You will never find any criticism of Xabi Alonso in my words. The responsibility for what happened with Albacete, in terms of the game, ideas, and athleticism, is my own responsibility”.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Venezuela “is in a very delicate phase,” which can be described as “a tense calm.” This was stated by Italian Ambassador to Caracas, Giovanni Umberto De Vito, in an interview for Diplomacy Magazine, the geopolitical column of the Italpress agency hosted by Claudio Brachino.

“The country is returning to normality; there are no episodes of violence or tension. Schools are not yet open, and this is an indicator that the situation is not completely stabilized, but security and public order are being monitored, and I would say that the most important thing is to show respect and attention to this first phase, and offer opportunities for collaboration,” the ambassador observed.

“This country needs hope, it needs to look to the future with a little more confidence, and above all, it needs more resources to circulate in the economic system, so that the population perceives that a positive change is beginning,” he specified.

“I won’t go so far as to speak of a transition, because, as has been said much more authoritatively than I have, there are phases; therefore, in this first phase (we need) stability and security, then economic development and improved living conditions, finally we can talk about a process of reconciliation and political transition,” the ambassador continued.

Regarding the freed Italian hostages, De Vito called it a great achievement for Italy. “I met with interim President Rodriguez on Monday, the day after the release of our compatriots (Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlò). I conveyed Prime Minister Meloni’s message, which was both a message of appreciation for their gesture and a message of openness, a willingness to build a new relationship, to turn the page, and to collaborate,” the diplomat added.

“The interim president responded positively,” De Vito added. Venezuela has an Italian community of over 160,000, the ambassador noted. “It is the third largest community in Latin America after Argentina and Brazil. Many of them have been here since birth or even since their parents and grandparents. I would say that they have suffered what this country has been through in recent years, but they have shown a strong capacity for resilience.

Among them are many entrepreneurs, many people professionally engaged at the most diverse levels of the country’s social life. It is a community that has in some way shaped the identity of Venezuela,” said the head of the diplomatic mission in Caracas.

“Here we eat Italian pasta, at Christmas we eat panettone, and so it’s a community that wants to look at opportunities to improve their lives. And this can only benefit our country, because they will then travel as tourists to Italy, they will receive visits from Italy, and if there is a gradual improvement in the situation, this can only strengthen relations. Unfortunately, there are still Italians in prison,” De Vito observed.

After the release of Trentini and Burlò, preceded by that of Biagio Pilieri and followed by that of Luigi Gasperin, about forty Italians remain in prison. “That number also includes those detained for ordinary reasons, so they cannot all be defined as people deprived of their liberty for reasons, let’s say, related to the political context. The commitment of Italian institutions continues: we are constantly taking action on individual cases. We are in contact with the families, we are in contact with their lawyers, and we are in contact with the authorities. Our goal is to free all Italians deprived of their liberty here for reasons related to the political context,” concluded Ambassador De Vito.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – “Is the match against Lille a key moment of the season? Honestly, I don’t think so. I can accept that there are people who doubt this team, but I don’t understand them. Do you really think we’ll win every game, every trophies? We need to appreciate what we’ve achieved. We’ll be playing against a good team like Lille. It’s been difficult every time against them. We need to show the same face we had in the first leg or last year.” Luis Enrique is playing quietly and not making a fuss after the derby defeat against Paris FC, which sealed their surprise elimination from the Coupe de France.

The Asturian coach prefers to focus on their next opponents, who “are very strong. They play well with and without the ball, we always have difficulties against them. We need to be ready and win the match. We want to improve our league position.”

Returning to Monday’s match, Luis Enrique emphasized that “the line between victory and defeat is very thin. No one can say we didn’t deserve to win that match. We clearly deserved to win. But we lost and we accepted the result. I hope it’s a motivation for Ligue 1 and the Champions League, which are the most important competitions, even though we clearly would have preferred to advance in the cup as well.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BENGHAZI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS) – The GKSD Group has signed an agreement in Benghazi for the construction and management of hospitals in Libya. The deal was finalised during a meeting between the Director General of Libyàs Development and Reconstruction Fund, Belgasem Khalifa Haftar, and a high-level Italian delegation that included Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli, Italy’s Ambassador to Libya Gianluca Alberini, and Italy’s Consul General in Benghazi Francesco Saverio De Luigi. The agreement on behalf of GKSD was signed by Kamel Ghribi, Chairman of GKSD Invest Holding and Vice Chairman of the San Donato Group.
“Today Deputy Minister Cirielli visited Benghazi, and the GKSD Group signed a highly significant agreement worth around two billion euros for the management and construction of hospitals,” Ambassador Ettore Sequi said during Diplomacy Magazine, a television programme produced by the Italpress news agency and hosted by Claudio Brachino.
“The presence of Deputy Minister Cirielli underscores the importance of this major initiative not only for the government but also for the Italian economy”, Sequi added.
During the visit, a package of strategic projects to be implemented in cooperation with GKSD was discussed in the presence of Hatem Al-Aribi, Director of the Projects Department of Libyàs Reconstruction Fund, and executives from some of the country’s leading healthcare institutions. Among the contracts signed are agreements for the management and administration of the National Cancer Centre in Benghazi, the full maintenance, management, and administration of the Benghazi Medical Center, as well as the construction and operation of two facilities for waste recycling and electricity generation, also located in Benghazi.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NEWCASTLE (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – With just two Premier League starts this season and a contract expiring in June, although Newcastle have the option to extend his contract until 2027, Joe Willock could leave the Magpies as early as this transfer window. According to “Sky Sports UK,” the 26-year-old midfielder is also reportedly interested in a Serie A club, as well as three teams in the English top flight.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela called on the international community to support a peaceful, negotiated and democratic solution to the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, addressing the diplomatic corps at New Year exchanges at Auberge de Castille.

Abela said Malta has been closely monitoring events in Venezuela and stressed the importance of upholding a rules‑based world order to ensure global stability, particularly for small open economies.

The prime minister reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to peace and dialogue throughout 2025, highlighting unity as essential to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine and noting Malta’s support for a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine that respects its neutrality.

Turning to the Middle East, he described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as critical and voiced concern over conditions in the West Bank, underlining Malta’s official recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025 as a step toward lasting peace.

Within the EU, Abela said Malta has advocated for dialogue and just peace, and he expressed hope for a more effective Union that can enhance competitiveness.

He highlighted Malta’s strengthened role in multilateral diplomacy, pointing to achievements during its Council of Europe Presidency, including work on the Special Tribunal for Ukraine and protocols on children’s rights and youth empowerment.

Abela warned that challenges such as climate change, digitalisation and the rise of artificial intelligence require coordinated responses, and announced the imminent publication of Malta Vision 2050, a nationwide strategy focused on innovation and quality of life.

Concluding his address, the prime minister said Malta plans to host key diplomatic events in several capitals to further international engagement.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – President Myriam Spiteri Debono has called on diplomats to work actively for peace and uphold international law amid escalating global conflicts.

“A world in which might is right would be detrimental to all countries, especially small nations,” she said.

The president was addressing members of the diplomatic corps during New Year exchanges held on Thursday at the President’s Palace in Valletta.

She described the global situation as tense, marked by wars, geopolitical rivalries, human rights abuses and growing disregard for international law.

On the Middle East, Spiteri Debono said peace could not be placed “on the back burner”, reiterating Malta’s support for a two-state solution.

Turning to Ukraine, she condemned Russia’s “illegal and unprovoked aggression”, now in its fifth year, and called for a peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She also cited Venezuela as an example of the fragility of international law,
urging calm and restraint to allow a peaceful, democratic transition.

The President warned that misinformation, disinformation and unregulated
artificial intelligence were fuelling conflict and threatening democracy.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, Mgr Savio Hon Tai-Fai, praised Malta’s hospitality and its role in dialogue. “Maltese neutrality does not represent the silence of indifference, but the courage to speak up for peace,” he said.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews